Soldiers deployed to Maphisa to block villagers' protest

As tension escalate between Matobo villagers and the Arda who partners with the Trek Petroleum in a farming project where some villagers are being evicted from the homes to pave way for the expansion of the farming area, government is reported to have deployed soldiers amid fears that villagers were planing to stage a protests against the move.

Sources form the area said the angry villagers had planned a demonstration to go and tender a petition to the farming project officials arguing that the evictions were disadvantaging them and complaining that the project does not benefit locals but many outsiders were employed at it.

"The villagers had planned to demonstrate over the evictions today (Thursday) but they are now afraid after the government deployed soldiers and the police in the area. These soldiers are intimidating people," said a villager.